Master of Divinity (MDiv)

• The Master of Divinity is a foundational theological academic degree that leads to ordination for pastoral ministry.
• The program is accredited by the European Council for Theological Education (ECTE).
• It is intended for individuals who demonstrate a clear calling to pastoral service.
• The language of instruction is Arabic, with a required foundational proficiency in English.
• The program requires full-time commitment and extends over four years, with study conducted five days per week throughout the entire year, including summer training components.
• Students are required to complete 138 credit hours (equivalent to 230 ects), which means approximately 6210 actual hours of study. See the document MDiv Year by Year (version Sept. 1, 2025)
• Courses are offered in either 3-credit-hour or 1.5-credit-hour formats:
  – A 3-credit-hour course is equivalent to 135 actual hours per semester (approximately 10 actual hours per week), including lectures, quizzes, assignments, exams, and research;
  – A 1.5-credit-hour course is equivalent to 67.5 actual hours per semester, including lectures, quizzes, assignments, and exams.
• The maximum course load per semester is 13.5 credit hours.
• Students are required to pay a nominal annual fee, determined by the institution. For the academic year 2025–2026, the fee is EGP 4,000.
  – This amount represents only a partial contribution toward the actual annual cost of study and residential accommodation, estimated at EGP 242,850 per student.
  – Tuition, housing, and residence are considered part of an institutional scholarship, subject to application. Students may apply for financial support covering tuition, accommodation, and/or residence.
  – The institution reserves the right to deny residential accommodation in any academic year in cases of non-compliance with institutional regulations.
• Students awarded scholarships are required to commit to eight years of service with the Synod of the Nile (the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Egypt), or to repay the scholarship according to regulations established by the institution in coordination with the synod.
• The applicant’s church is expected to contribute a minimum of 4,000 EGP annually toward the student’s expenses, as an expression of institutional endorsement and shared responsibility. This contribution is in addition to the student’s personal financial obligations.
• The first academic year is designated as a probationary period.
• The institution reserves the right to terminate enrollment at any stage if the student fails to demonstrate adequate spiritual, academic, behavioral, or psychological readiness for ministerial service.

The seminary selects the best candidates from the presbyteries, according to the decision of the examination and testing committee formed by the seminary, without being restricted to quota for each individual presbytery, since all candidates will ultimately be serving the wider church. According to the seminary’s regulations, applicants are expected to:

• Be a Christian, with a vision for ministry in church or society.
• Have a good reputation and demonstrate strong moral character within their church and community.
• Hold a non-theological bachelor’s degree, or a Bachelor of Theology from a theological college accredited by a recognized academic accreditation body such as ECTE.
• Have completed their undergraduate studies or have received their final results by the time of the personal interview in June 2026.
• Have completed military service or been exempted from it by the time of the personal interview in June 2026.
• Have been a member of a Presbyterian church for at least one year by the beginning of studies in September 2026.
• Have professional work experience, preferably not less than three years, by September 2026.
• Do not exceed the age of 35 years and 6 months at the start of studies, except in the case of transfer from another program, provided that the applicant’s age does not exceed 40 years at the time of approbation (tasrīh) by the presbytery, according to the Synod’s decision.
• Possess sufficient time, educational capacity, and financial means required for study.
• Demonstrate a basic proficiency in English (assessed through a placement test in June).
• Demonstrate a good command of Arabic (assessed through a placement test in June).
• Have foundational theological and biblical knowledge. This is assessed through a special test during the interview days.
• Possess general cultural awareness. This is assessed through a special test during the interview days.
• Demonstrate emotional maturity and psychological stability. A psychological assessment is conducted during the interview days.
• Have submitted all required documents and have completed the application forms and questions the and scholarship application.
• Be prepared for all admission tests (Arabic, English, theological/biblical knowledge, and general knowledge).
• Pass the examination of the Theological Education Committee of their presbytery.
• Pass the personal interview at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo at its Cairo campus.

• Applicants should submit all required documents to the presbytery to which their local church belongs as soon as possible, by the deadline set by the presbytery. This will allow the presbytery to meet with the applicant at the earliest opportunity and then forward the documents to the seminary by May 31, 2026.
• If the presbytery accepts the applicant, it will forward the applicant’s documents to the seminary by May 31, 2026, recommending their admission.
• At the seminary, applicants will undergo psychological, theological, and linguistic examinations, as well as a personal interview, during June 2026.